Apparatus for splicing fabric



July 17, 1928. 1,677,857

w. w.4BENNER Er Ax.

AYPAATUS FOR SPLCING FABRIC July 17, 1928. 1,677,857

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1,677,857 w.y w. BENNER Er Al. APPARATUS Fon srmcnc FABRIC Filed peo., 5. 19322 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 n l o Hw" it u ww .31

Fetented July 17, 1928.

stares Pai-snr orties.

VINTHROP" W. BEITNER, OF CUYAHOGAffFALLS, AND EDMTND A. HOENER, OF AKRON,

OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE FRESTONE OHIO, A COIEtPORA'IIOll= 0F OHIO;

APPARATUS FOR Application filed December 'lfhis invention relates toa method and arp-- tinuous calendering operation described and' claimed in our copending application Serial No. (338,497, tiledr May 12, 1923'.

Heretofore it has been proposedv to unite the leading end of, roll of fabric to the last end of another rolly of fabric by stitching or sewing them together, bul-t this operation has not been altogether satisfactory, andv` it is the purpose of this invention to provide a" simpler and more eflicient method of uniting the ends of tne fabric.

in trie particular application of the invention it is the object to form the fabric in a continuous strip or web which is led, without interruption, through a series of calenders which apply the various coatings of rubber thereto. so that the operation may go on. continuously, thereby obtaining a more efficient calendering unit.

ln the drawings accompanying this appli*- cation is shown one type of apparatus, and

the description gives a preferred sequence .of steps for carrying out the method, but

changes and modifications may be made in bothy aspects of the invention within the scope of the claims attached hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of an apparatus for carrying out the splicing operation; Y

Figure 2 is a plan view;

Figure 3 is an end levation looking from the left-hand end of Figure 1;

Figure l is a Vertical section through the splicing mechanism showing the device in closed position;

Figure 5 is a and l Figures 6 and 7 illustrate two steps in the method of forming the splice. i

As stated in the earlier port-ion of the specification, it is the object of the invention to provide a method and means by which the leading end of a fresh roll of fabric may be secured to the last end of a nearly eX- hausted roll so that a continuous calendering fragmentary plan thereof;

`'.rrnEL/iinj.RUBBER COMPANY, or AKRON,

srLroING. FABRIC.

`5V, 1922; Serial No, 6U5,058.

operationinay be carried on without interruption.

1in-the drawings, the approximately exhaustecl roll of fabric is indicated by the letter A' andthe fresh roll by the letter B. The roll of fabric il from which the calenders have been drawingthe fabric towardthe right of Figure 1, is supported i-n a cradle 1, provided with a plurality of supporting rollers L", so that the fabric rol-l will easily unwind. rlhe path of the fabric is shown by the dot and dash lines marked a and is from the roll1 over guide roller supportedI in framework l and over guide roller 5 in bracket 6, thence througha pair of smoothing and tensioning rollers 7 to the dance rolls and calenders not shown. One of the rollers 7 may be pro fided with a brakedrunr 8 which is for the purpose of exerting a proper tension on the fabric so that it will not overrun itself and will not be drawn back after leaving the rolls.

rlllie fresh roll of fabric B is supported in a cradle composed of rollers 9 which are mounted in a pivoted frame 10. The frame 10 is pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 11v which is slightly offbenterso that the 'tendency ofthe frame is to tip downwardly toward the cradle 1. The Vhaft 11 is supported in a carriage 12 and thecradle is locked in elevated position by a pin 13 L(FigurefQ).y Vhen the pinl 13 is released the cradle l9 will4 drop to discharge the roll into the cradle 1. Lugs 1,4 in the pivoted framev contact the upper surface of the carriage and prevent accidental tipping of the cradle in the opposite direction.y

The carriage 12 is supported on, rollers 15 which run on vtransverse tracks 16 so that Vthe carriage may. be moved to one side to have the new roller placedin position.

On the opposite side of thecarriage is ar#` ranged a cutting and folding table 17, the purpose of which will be described later.

At the extreme left of the apparatus, as viewed in Figure 1, is the splicing device, indicated in general by the 'numeral 18. This comprises two verticaluprights 19 connected' by two cross pieces 20. 'On the lower inside surfaces of the uprights 19 are arranged vertical guideways 21 in which is slidably mounted a horizontal cross-bar 9.2. This cross-bar is arranged to be raised and lowered by a rock shaft 23 mounted in bearings 2li on the lower cross-bar 20 and carrying arms 25 which are connected to the bar 22 by links 26. An operating lever 27 is attached to the arm so that by manipulation of the lever, the cross-bar may be raised and lowered. On the upperI surface of the crossbar is supported a table 28 which extends to the rear of the standards and which is proivided at its forward end with a sheet metal trough 29 which extends the length of the table. A padding 30 may be inserted within the trough if desired.

Above the trough 29 is supported by straps 3l a horizontal stationary heated pipe 32. The splicing device is adapted to "be used in. securing together the ends of the fabric rolls by a vulcanized splice as will be understood as the method is described.

The method of using the apparatus and of forming` the union between the ends of the fabric is substantially as follows:

As the roll A nears exhaustion, the operators pull from it, at a more rapid rate than the speed of the calenders, the remainder of the roll of fabric and pile it in folds as shown at C. rl`he fresh roll of fabric B being in position, the last end of the roll A is carried back to the cutting and folding table 17 and may be cut off square by the aid of a ruler 33. The leading end of the roll B is also brought back to the table 17 and folded over a straight edge 34 so as to obtain a` square joint. rlhe folded portion of the roll is indicated by the letter Z2 and the last 'end of roller A by the letter a in Figure 7.

Between these portions of the fabricis placed a thin strip of uncured, quick vulcanizing rubber l and the ends of the fabric are laid in the trough 29, which is lowered for that purpose as shown in Figure 3. The lever 27 is now operated and the trough raised until the superposed ends of the fabric contact with the heated pipe 32 in which position they are held until the rubber is cured, which joins the ends of the fabric together. The composition of the rubber strip d is such that a few moments will suflice for curing the splice whereupon the cross-bar is lowered V and the fabric can be conducted through the fabric rolls into a continuous web, compris- 1 ing supports forthe exhausted and "he fresh rolls, a vulcanizing apparatus adjacent the supports, and means for removing` the fresh roll and placing it in the position of the eX- hausted roll.

2. An apparatus for uniting the ends of fabric rolls into a continuous web, compris.

ing. a stationary cradle for the exhausted roll and a tilting cradle for the fresh roll above the other cradle7 an apparatus for uniting the ends of the fabric rolls, and means for tilting the cradle to discharge the fresh roll into the stationary cradle.

3. An apparatus for uniting the ends of fabric rolls into a continuous web, comprising a cradle for the exhausted roll and a cradle for the fresh roll, an apparatus for' uniting the ends of the fabric rolls, and means for discharging the fresh roll into the cradle for the exhausted roll.

. Ll. An apparatus for uniting the ends of fabric rolls into a continuous web, comprising` a support for the exhausted roll and a L support for the fresh roll, an apparatus for unitingl the ends of the rolls into a continu? ous web, and means for transferring the fresh roll into the place of the exhausted roll after the ends have been united.

an apparatus for the uses and purposes set forth, comprising a support for an eX- hausted roll of fabric and a support for a fresh roll of fabric', a vulcanizing press for uniting the ends of the fabric'by a Vulcania ing' operation, and means for moving` the' fresh roll of fabric to the positon for the ex-` Y tween the ends of the fabric, and means for i moving the fresh fabric roll to the position for the exhausted roll after the fabric endsY have been vulcanized together.

VINTHROP YV. BENNER. EDMUND A. HOENER. 

